The Supreme Court Tuesday held that the abolition of the Odisha Administrative
Tribunal was constitutionally valid.
A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud
rejected the challenge to the decision by the tribunal bar association.
"We hold that abolition of Orissa Administrative
Tribunal (OAT) was constitutionally valid. Article 323A (dealing with
Administrative tribunals) does not preclude the Union of India to abolish state
administrative tribunals. The decision to abolish the tribunal is not violative
of Article 14 of the Constitution," the bench also comprising Justice PS
Narasimha said.
The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by the
Orissa Administrative Tribunal Bar Association against a high court order that
upheld the notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training of
the central government on August 2, 2019, which abolished OAT.
The high court had noted in its order that there was
sufficient material to support the view of the state government that OAT has
not served the purpose of delivery of speedy justice to litigants.